Peter Obi backs Tinubu’s peace move in Rivers

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of emergency rule in Rivers State, describing it as an opportunity for political leaders in the state to learn from past mistakes and embrace peace.

President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, for six months. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) was appointed Sole Administrator to stabilize the state under the powers of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

On Wednesday, Tinubu announced the lifting of the emergency, citing “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding.”

Reacting on Thursday via his X handle, Obi welcomed the development, stressing that it offered vital lessons for all the political gladiators in the state.

He said: “I just hope that some lessons were learned by all the gladiators in the Rivers State impasse. Great minds remind us that the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.

“A true leader is the one who admits his/her mistakes, is smart enough to learn from them, and is strong enough to correct them.”

Congratulating Rivers people for their patience during the crisis, Obi appealed to Governor Fubara, the state House of Assembly members and other political leaders to seize the moment and forge a peaceful path forward.

“The real mistake is the one where we end up learning nothing. Be assured that a new Nigeria is possible and inevitable,” he added.

The Rivers crisis, rooted in the fierce political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had paralysed governance and fueled widespread tension until Tinubu’s intervention restored stability.